The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-10

leaped upon grandfather, held him down
and the other man ran from cell to cell tt
throw of the padlocks.
''Shut the door and lock it, Frank p
shouted Josiah, as ne saw that an insurrec
ton was to occur, ''and then run and tel
grandmother"
obeyed him, though terribly frightened
and then fastened upstairs, meeting grand
mother at the head. carrying one of the
rifles. She had heard the struggle, and
knew what IL meant. Just as she stepped
upon the stairs, there was a wild yell, &
great smash, and the corridor door wa:
taizen of its hinges. AS afterwards ascer
tanned, the rascals had used the tools with
such yigor that the hinges OF the door haC
been almost filed of, and any other mar
except grandfather must have noticed the
work.
Well, the whole twelve came bounding
into the hall, having secured nv grand
father in cell, feeling confident that they
had only to force the front door to make
their escape. Prudence stood on the stairs,
in plain view of the villains, and they yelled
again as they saw her.
''Hold on, therep' she shouted, bringing
the rifle to her shoulder as q sportsman
does when about to make an off-hand shot.
will get bullet in his heart"
Tall, fierce-looking, and armed with a
deadly weapon, the woman must have
seemed like determined obstacle in the
path Of escape, for the rascals halted in an
instant. Still keeping the gun leveled at
the crowd, and never once looking at me,
my grandmother whispered:
"Frank, go down to the sitting-room and
bring me up that big revolver. You'll find
it in the bottom drawer of the bureau. Be
sure and get the big one, and run for your
| lifer'
| The brave woman, while looking the des.
peradoes in the face, and expecting a rush
| every moment, had noticed that the per-
cussion cap had dropped from the nipple,
and she was yet cool enough to whisper
what she did
ran with all my might, jerked open the
drawer, laid hold of the ''CoIt," which was
a heavy six-shooter, and in a moment was
| back again. l came just in time. The gang
had recovered from their surprise, and
| having but little fear of the rife lin the
hands of a faint-away female, they thought)
| they made rush for the stairs just as
| handed grandmother the weapon. Click! !!
click! went the hammer; there was yell,
report, and the man who was one-third
the way upstairs went rolling down, shot
dead by bullet through his head.
AS the smoke lifted, caught glimpse
of grandmother's face, and it frightened
me more than the yells and the shooting.
Her eyes were blazing, her teeth shut hard,
blood Oozing from her mouth, coming from
her bitten lips, and never since have seen
such sight.
$50 back! Go back to your cells this mo-
mentr' she shouted, descending step or
two, and aiming the revolver at the head
of the nearest man.
The gang fell back, back until they were
halfway down the hall, and then they
stopped. WiId-Cat Jim had given the word,
and they were going to try it again.
''See here, old woman" shouted Jim,
raising his fist at her: well murder you
for this. We didn't want to hurt you, but
now We'll roast you alive on the stove"
She was on the middle stair and at the
head. Without moving her head or betray-
ing the least emotion in her voice, she whis-
pered to me once more:
Frank, if the men get me, do you shut
and lock the door, run into the sitting
room, lock that door, and then run into the
street and tell the men that the prisoners
are loose. If you don't do this, they will
Kill you'll"
The gang were shouting and shaking
their fists, furious at being foiled by
woman, and then in a moment every voice
was stilled. They were going to rush.
- Come on, boys! Don't spare herr'
shouted Wildcat Jim, and they rushed
They reached the stairs, came boundingup,
and then there was a report, followed by
another, and then every thing was still again
every thing except the sickening bump,
bump, OF two dead bodies, as they fell from
step to step.
The smoke cleared off after moment,
and saw three bodies at the foot of the
stairs, and the blanched faces of the nine
desperadoes halfway down the hall. My
grandmother had only been acting on the I!
defence as yet; she now prepared to be- |
come the attacking party. Walking slowly !
down the stairs. her eyes looking like blaz- !
ing Goals, her lips covered with blood, and |
the smoking revolver held ready for use,
she stepped over the bodies, advanced to /
within five feet of the nearest man and |
said, her voice sounding like a sharp hiss:
'Get back, dogsl Get back into the cor !
ridor! The man who stands here after 1 |
nave counted ten will become a corpse"
did not faint away, but came very near
t. Clutching the railing for support, 1 was
so blind for moment that l could not see
he figures in the hall, but could hear the
clear voice of grandmother crying out:
wo-three-four-"
She did not count further. The pale faces
yrew paler, the villains trembled and they
Ill rushed for the corridor at once. Grand
mother followed them to the door, saw that
Ter husband had been locked up, and she
Each man of you enter your cell and
hut the doorl give you just one minute
o obey.n
In less than thirty seconds every prisoner
vas in his cell. Prudence then went from
ell to cell, dropped in the padlocks, then
pened the one which Josiah occupied, and
e walked out. His face was as white as
he paper write on, and he looked at her
n such vacant way that one would have
hought him crazy or dreaming. But he
vas only amazed. He had heard all, real
zed all, and could not comprehend it.
Josiah, lock these doors, and then 90
nd get Coroner Martini" commanded Pru-
ence, turning to go out. ''Tell him also to
ring Mr.. Dakin, the undertaken
The woman then sat down in a chair, told
er story to the astonished crowd which
oon came in, and went through the whole
Xcltement without finch. When all
7as over she went to the sitting room, had
fit Of Mysteries as a recreation, and In !
alf an hour was around getting the dinner
eady. She had no care for the laudations !
the public.
The Barnabys came Of a fighting stock"
'as her reply. "Some starved at Valley
orge, some fell at Bunker Hill, one fought
nder Paul Jones. and the blood hasn't ,
lrned To water yetr'